Yahoo! Sports reports Ravens players were ready to revolt against coach John Harbaugh after he announced they would go through a full-pads practice on Halloween, fresh off their bye week and 10 days after an ugly 43-13 loss at Houston.

Veterans such as safeties Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard were reportedly among those who voiced their displeasure at Harbaugh in a team meeting. But instead of using it as a chance to assert his power with an iron fist, the coach welcomed the players' appeal of his decision with open arms.

"It was practically a mutiny," a Ravens player told Yahoo! Sports. "It came very close to getting out of control. But the way Coach Harbaugh handled it was amazing.

"He let people have their say, and he listened, and he explained himself, and pretty soon it was like a big group-therapy session. In the end, a lot of positive things were said. We didn't practice in pads, but we came out of there stronger as a group."

Since Oct. 31 the Ravens have won four consecutive games to surge to a 9-2 record. They're on the brink of winning a second consecutive AFC North title. Baltimore hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday with a chance to put away the division race.

Harbaugh made it clear that he appreciated the feedback from his players that day, and it's only made his players respond better on the field.

"I wasn't threatened by it," Harbaugh said. "You know, they had some good points, and I had some good points. Other guys stood up and said some great things. To me, it embodied everything that you should have on a team."

It's no surprise the Ravens are about to make it five trips to the playoffs in five years under Harbaugh. His brother in San Francisco gets a little more attention, but Baltimore's leader is as steady as it comes in relating to his players and getting the most of their talent.